Way Back When in Santa Barbara -- 100 Years Ago

WAY BACK WHEN - 100 Years Ago Today - On August 8, 1918, the local paper ran this headline: "Four Southern Men Swim in B.V.D.s." The swimmers from LA, "were charged with drinking on the beach and bathing in their B.V.D.s. According to police, the four men were intoxicated when arrested, and a quart bottle of whisky was found buried in the sand near where they staged their party … the four men were having a hilarious time at the foot of Santa Barbara Street, splashing about in the surf in costumes that no self-respecting censor would pass … The men were released on a bail … and departed for Los Angeles vowing never to return."

It's interesting that the brand name BVD is still used today as a synonym for men's unmentionables. The company Bradley, Voorhees & Day began back in 1876. One of their early slogans was, "Next to Myself I Like BVD Best." [This and other fun stories will be included in "Way Back When: Santa Barbara in 1918" due out this fall.]

The building which had served as the school and orphanage since the 1870s is still on De la Vina, although it is missing its original top floor. The third floor was damaged in the 1925 earthquake (the orphans were no longer housed there), and the building became two stories. Image: Betsy J. Green)

WAY BACK WHEN - 100 Years Ago Today - On August 1, 1918, the children who resided in St. Vincent's Orphanage at 925 De la Vina Street got their chance for a picnic. According to the local paper, "The children of St. Vincent's had an enjoyable picnic yesterday on Leadbetter Hill. [Now the site of Santa Barbara City College.] This hill has been their picnic grounds for the last 40 years, when it was formerly known as the Dibblee estate. Mr. and Mrs. Dibblee used to look forward each year to the children's coming, and took great pleasure in assisting with the luncheons. Mr. Leadbetter has kept up the good old-time spirit … The morning was spent rambling over the spacious grounds, and dinner which was served at noon, was greatly enjoyed by all."

WAY BACK WHEN - 100 Years Ago Today - On July 22, 1918, the "Flying A" film studio released their latest film Impossible Susan. This comedy-drama stars Margarita Fisher who plays a tomboy "with pleasing grace," according to one reviewer. Margarita, a poor orphan, ends up living with her aunt who is the housekeeper in a mansion inhabited by two brothers. The two brothers alternately fall in and out of love with Margarite, and she alternately likes one brother, and then the other. Since three-way relationships were not acceptable 100 years ago, Margarita ends up settling for one of the brothers. He proposes, and they lived happily ever after.

WAY BACK WHEN - 100 Years Ago Today - The other breakfast cereal company had an ad in the local paper on July 20, 1918. An ad in the local paper reminded me of the breakfast cereal king who used to live in Santa Barbara. No, not Kellogg, the other one — Charles W. Post. Remember Post Toasties or Postum? And how about Grape Nuts?

Post lived at 2102 Bath Street toward the end of his life when his health was failing. Despondent over his ill health, he committed suicide here in 1914. (The home is now longer here.)

WAY BACK WHEN - 100 Years Ago Today - On July 7, 1918, women rolled up their sleeves & pitched in. As more and more young men left for the battlefields, young women stepped up to take their places -- in the fields, in the theaters, in the telegraph offices, and in the hotels. "Girls Ready to Enter Bean Fields," wrote the local paper on July 7, 1918. "Clad in overalls and straw sombreros, nine well-known Santa Barbara girls will invade the Carpinteria apricot orchards … The job undertaken by the girls is a man-sized one. … The girls will not only pit, but they will pick and dry the fruit as well, practically unassisted by male employees. … Appearance will be a secondary matter, so a little dirt upon their faces and hands is to be expected."

WAY BACK WHEN - 100 Years Ago Today - On July 2, 1918, the order came from on high — i.e., the United States War Office, and was printed in the SB paper. “Work or Fight! … Every man who is within the draft must fight for the government or work for it. … Not only men within the draft age, but most of the younger and older men are complying with the government’s wishes and are now engaged in useful pursuits. The majority of them have gone to the farms and ranches or entered into some of the other pursuits … classed as essential.” (Image: Aces and Kings: Cartoons from the Des Moines Register, Jay N. Darling, 1918) Read More

WAY BACK WHEN – 100 YEARS AGO TODAY – On June 28, 1918, the local paper announced the names of four Carpinteria men who were leaving to work in the spruce division of the American Aviation Corps (now called the Air Force). Why spruce? Most World War I planes were made of spruce and linen.

WAY BACK WHEN – 100 YEARS AGO TODAY – On June 25, 1918, the local paper reported on speeding problems in Santa Barbara: “‘The [East] Valerio Street hill, which seems to be the place most motorists select to test the speed of their cars,’ was too tempting for one driver. This motorist was nabbed by the SB Speed Officer for zooming down the hill at the illegal speed of 28 miles per hour. (The speed limit for most streets in 1918 was 15 m.p.h.) Read More

WAY BACK WHEN – 100 YEARS AGO TODAY – On June 14, 1918, Santa Barbara residents were chuckling over this cartoon in the local paper. Folks here really needed a good laugh after reading numerous depressing stories about the war in Europe.

WAY BACK WHEN – 100 YEARS AGO TODAY – On June 2, 1918, the SB paper announced that the local chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows would hold a meeting to greet the organization’s “Grand Patriarch” who was visiting this area. The meeting was held in the IOOF building at 15 East Anapamu. The group still meets in this building, and the next time you pass by, you can look up and see their logo -- three chain links -- displayed on the second floor of the building. Read More